Shenandoah
National Park
LOCATION:
The Park is approximately 75 miles west of
Washington, DC and the Headquarters offices are located 3 miles west of
Thornton Gap and 4 miles east of Luray, Virginia on U.S. 211.
DESCRIPTION:
Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge,
which forms the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains between
Pennsylvania and Georgia. In the valley to the west is the Shenandoah River,
from which some feel the Park gets its name, and between the north and south
forks of the river is Massanutten, a 40-mile-long mountain. To the east is the
rolling Piedmont country. Providing vistas of the spectacular landscape is
Skyline Drive, a winding road that runs along the crest of this portion of the
Blue Ridge Mountains through the length of the Park. Authorized May 22, 1926;
fully established December 26, 1935. Total acreage is 196,466.19, including
79,579 acres of the designated Wilderness area.
LODGING, CAMPING, ACCESSIBILITY, INFORMATION, ACTIVITIES, NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES, SHENANDOAH NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION/Bookstore
PRESS RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
VISITATION:
Nearly two million visitors come to Shenandoah
National Park each year. The highest visitation is during the fall color
season and the summer months. Traffic can be heavy on Skyline Drive during
these weekends.
ADDRESS:
3655 U.S. Hwy. 211 E
Luray, Virginia 22835-9036
TELEPHONE:
540/999-3500 (Information)
OPEN:
The Park itself is always open, but the Skyline Drive which
is the only road through Shenandoah National Park closes some portions during
hunting season from dusk to early morning. This road also closes in inclement
weather for safety reasons.
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
The mountains in Shenandoah National
Park are usually 10 degrees cooler than the valley below. Winters can be
severe with snow and ice and summer showers are the usual. Layered clothing is
always suggested.
DIRECTIONS:
Since there are no bus, taxi or shuttle services
through the Park, a car is needed. Accessible by I-66 and 340 to the north
entrance at Front Royal, 211 for the central entrance at Thornton Gap, 33 at
Swift Run Gap and I-64 at the Rockfish Gap entrance. Speed limit for the
Skyline Drive is 35mph.
TRANSPORTATION:
No bus or train services. Taxi service is
available from Front Royal, Luray and Waynesboro to areas in the Park. From
Front Royal to the first visitor center, Dickey Ridge, is 5 miles, to Skyland
is 42 miles. From Luray to Thornton Gap Entrance Station is 9 miles, to
Skyland, 19 miles and to Big Meadows, 29 miles. From Waynesboro to the Loft
Mountain area is 30 miles and to Big Meadows the distance is 60 miles.
Closest airports are in Washington, DC (90 miles), Weyers Cave (45 miles) and Charlottesville (50 miles), Virginia.
Bicycles are permitted in the Park on paved roads only. The speed limit is also 35mph on the Skyline Drive for bicycles and 10 mph in campgrounds.
FEES:
Entrance Fees (good for 7 consecutive days):
Entrance is free if you have a Shenandoah Pass, a Golden Eagle, Golden Access or Golden Age Passport.
FACILITIES AND SERVICES:
The following are usually open late spring
through late fall and closed during winter. Call 540/999-3500 for opening dates
and times.
Visitor Centers
Waysides
Campstores
Wood, Ice, Showers, Washers and Dryers
Big Meadows at Milepost 51 (first-come, first-served until May 14, then reservations through Biospherics at 1-800-365-CAMP)
Dining and Food Service
Picnic Grounds
Accessibility
Most comfort stations and
buildings are accessible or accessible with help. Overnight accommodations are
available at Lewis Mountain, Skyland and Big Meadows Lodge. Picnic grounds
and campgrounds have accessible sites. Restrooms at picnic grounds are
accessible with assistance. Shower and laundry facilities are accessible at Big
Meadows and Lewis Mountain Campgrounds. Limberlost Trail is accessible. It
is a gently sloping 1.3 mile trail featuring a 5' wide hard-packed green stone
dust surface with a less than 8% gradient and benches are at frequent
intervals.
The trail circles through an old-growth forest of magnificent hemlocks and includes a 65' bridge and 150' boardwalk.
Visitor Activities
Conducted activities change from year to year,
as well as season to season. Call 540/999-3500 for a schedule of seasonal
activities.
Special Events
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES
Hiking (over 500 miles of hiking trails), picnicking,
camping in a regular campground or backcountry camping with a permit (available
at visitor centers, entrance stations or Park Headquarters), participating in
conducted activities, watching the audiovisual programs and viewing the
exhibits in the visitor centers, fishing in one of 30 legal Park streams, or
just plain relaxing in the peaceful surroundings.
BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS
Since the Skyline Drive is 105 miles in
length, and the speed limit is 35mph, it requires three to five hours to travel
from north to south, stopping at some of the overlooks. To really "see"
and enjoy all that Shenandoah has to offer, plan on one to two days for a good
visit.
ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS
There are a number of interesting
areas to visit all around Shenandoah National Park. There are many popular
caverns, museums, antique shops, fairs and festivals in season, two national
forests and historic towns.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Write to Park
Headquarters for more information at Shenandoah National Park, 3655 U.S. Hwy
211 E, , Luray, Virginia 22835-9036 or call 540/999-3500.
Books, maps and materials about Shenandoah National Park can be
ordered from the Shenandoah Natural History Association, 3655 U.S. Hwy 211 E,
Luray, VA 22835-9036 or call 540/999-3582.